Communication apparatus, control method, and program

Abstract

The convenience of users is improved for a case in which a network is structured by way of performance of a process of sharing communication parameters with other apparatuses. A process of providing, so that an upper limit number of communication partners is M which is a plural number, communication parameters to a communication partner is performed in accordance with a predetermined operation performed by a user. When the predetermined operation is performed by the user again after the process has been performed, the communication parameters are provided to a communication partner so that an upper limit number of communication partners is one.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication apparatus comprising:
 a communication-parameter providing unit configured to:
 perform a first communication-parameter provision process for providing a communication parameter to one or more communication partners in response to a predetermined operation performed by a user, an upper limit number of the communication partners being M, which is a plural number; and 
 perform a second communication-parameter provision process for providing the communication parameter to a communication partner in response to the predetermined operation performed by the user, an upper limit number of the communication partner being one, 
 
 wherein, when time has exceeded a predetermined time limit before provision of the communication parameter to M communication partners is completed in the first communication-parameter provision process, and when it is detected that the predetermined operation is performed by the user again, the communication-parameter providing unit performs the second communication-parameter provision process without performing the first communication-parameter provision process. 
 
     
     
       2. A method for controlling a communication apparatus, the method comprising controlling the communication apparatus to:
 perform a first communication-parameter provision process for providing a communication parameter to one or more communication partners in response to a predetermined operation performed by a user, an upper limit number of the communication parameters being M, which is a plural number; and 
 perform a second communication-parameter provision process for providing the communication parameter to a communication partner in response to the predetermined operation performed by the user, an upper limit number of the communication partner being one, 
 wherein, when time has exceeded a predetermined time limit before provision of the communication parameter to M communication partners is completed in the first communication-parameter provision process, and when it is detected that the predetermined operation is performed by the user again, the second communication-parameter provision process is performed without performing the first communication-parameter provision process. 
 
     
     
       3. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for controlling a communication apparatus, wherein the program, when executed by a computer, controls a communication apparatus to:
 perform a first communication-parameter provision process for providing a communication parameter to one or more communication partners in response to a predetermined operation performed by a user, an upper limit number of the communication parameters being M, which is a plural number; and 
 perform a second communication-parameter provision process for providing the communication parameter to a communication partner in response to the predetermined operation performed by the user, an upper limit number of the communication partner being one, 
 wherein, when time has exceeded a predetermined time limit before provision of the communication parameter to M communication partners is completed in the first communication-parameter provision process, and when it is detected that the predetermined operation is performed by the user again, the second communication-parameter provision process is performed without performing the first communication-parameter provision process. 
 
     
     
       4. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication parameter is used for wireless communication. 
     
     
       5. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication parameter includes at least one of a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. 
     
     
       6. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication parameter includes a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. 
     
     
       7. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication-parameter providing unit is further configured to set the state of the communication apparatus to a protection state in which the first and second communication-parameter provision processes are not activated. 
     
     
       8. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second communication-parameter provision process is performed depending on whether the communication parameter is provided to the M communication partners in the first communication-parameter provision process. 
     
     
       9. The communication apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein, even when the predetermined operation is performed by the user after the communication parameter is provided to the M communication partners in the first communication-parameter provision process, the second communication-parameter provision process is not performed. 
     
     
       10. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication apparatus performs LAN communication conforming to a wireless protocol with the one or more communication partners to which the communication parameter is provided. 
     
     
       11. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication parameter provided in the first communication-parameter provision process is identical to the communication parameter provided in the second communication-parameter provision process. 
     
     
       12. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a role determination unit configured to:
 send a beacon signal indicating a capability of functioning as a communication parameter providing apparatus; 
 send a search signal to the one or more communication partners to search for an external providing apparatus; and 
 set the communication apparatus as a providing apparatus. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The communication apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the role determination unit is further configured to receive a search response signal from the one or more communication partners indicating that the one or more communication partners are not an external providing apparatus. 
     
     
       14. The communication apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the beacon signal includes a network identifier of a network created by the communication apparatus. 
     
     
       15. The communication apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the search signal includes a network identifier and an indication that the communication apparatus has a capability of functioning as a communication-parameter providing apparatus. 
     
     
       16. The communication apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the search signal includes an indication that the first communication-parameter provision process is being performed by the communication apparatus. 
     
     
       17. The communication apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the search signal includes an indication that the second communication-parameter provision process is being performed by the communication apparatus.